KERN RIVER VALLEY

FIRE SAFE COUNCIL

July 2006

Meeting Minutes

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KERN RIVER VALLEY FIRE SAFE COUNCIL

General meeting
Thursday, July 20, 2006

Board of Directors/General Meeting
President Ed Royce convened the meeting at 8:31 AM
 
Those present: Ed Royce, Gaby Kidwell, Penny Lampkins, Tom Parkin, Sharon Rooney, Sue Rocha, Cindy Thill, Margie Clack, Rich Olson, Ken Stevens, Bob Robinson, Ken Delfino, Lloyd smith, Gordon Hancock, Christine Hancock, , Robin Wyatt-Little.
 
Introductions were made.
 
Minutes: Motion to approve by Sharon Rooney. Christine Hancock – 2nd. Unanimous approval.
 
Treasurer’s Report: Sharon Rooney reports the following balances: Frazier Park - $49,500; Hungry Gulch - $75,000; Kennedy Meadows - $29,425; Mt. Pinos -$20,000; Fire Mitigation Guide/State Farm - $317.78; Operating Account - $865.48.
 
Sharon just paid the Property/Equipment Insurance Premium of $730.00, an increase of $81.00 since last year’s premium. Motion to accept by Robin Wyatt-Little. Penny Lampkins – 2nd. Unanimous approval.
 
GRANT REPORTS: Rich Olson
 
Kennedy Meadows – CWPP progressing nicely. (Ken Delfino will give progress report.)
 
Hungry Gulch – Fuel break coming along well. Crews are working on private property fuels compliance citations but will return ASAP.
 
Frazier Park – fuels reduction project progressing well. Mt. Pinos CWPP grant is progressing.
 
Sequoia Crest/Alder Creek FSC – A letter has been received that the original award has been increased but no written contract has been received as yet. Rich is communicating with Cathy Brooks, Grants Coordinator of the California FSC regarding the contract.
 
Frontier Trail – Application for continuing the fuels reduction/fire break on the south side has not been awarded as yet. In a holding pattern.
 
The Bodfish Canyon fuels reduction application is still in the grants clearing house waiting to be selected for a grant award.
 
KENNEDY MEADOWS CWPP REPORT – Ken Delfino, Project Consultant
 
Ken began his preliminary project research in April 06, meeting with representatives from BLM, CDF, Tulare County and USFS. He is very complimentary about the level of cooperation he has experienced from all these agencies. To date Ken has made three trips to Kennedy Meadows, spending 5 days in June assessing fuel plots. There are 110 parcels with 62 parcels having been inspected thus far.
 
Ken describes the project area as unique with very little county services readily available – “pretty much off the grid.” This makes for a very unique fire problem.
 
Ken’s next progress report will be made at the September 21st FSC meeting at which time all field work should be done. A draft of the final report will be presented in October with an expected final CWPP report in January 2007.
 
ROAD SIGNS – Cindy Thill, USFS
 
Due to fire season for Cindy and Jim Davis (on vacation) there has not been much happening with the road sign project. There was discussion regarding each sign placement requiring specific individuals committing to the maintenance and changing of the seasonal signs. Jim Davis has volunteered for one of the signs (Kern Canyon). Lloyd Smith of the Walker Pass area has volunteered for that area’s sign. Gordon and Christine Hancock would be willing to help with the South Lake (Paul’s Place) area sign but it was agreed that it would be best if someone in the immediate area would take on this responsibility as the Hancock’s live in Bodfish. Ken Stevens reiterated that a gentleman, Fred Zullo, from the Walker Basin area has volunteered to maintain a sign in that area. While there has not been a plan to place a sign there it was agreed this is a good idea and Cindy felt that the USFS could construct four signs as opposed to the proposed original three. Lloyd Smith will get in touch with Jim Davis regarding the sponsorship proposal sent to SCE and amend the number of signs to four rather than three. Attending issues regarding the signs were discussed i.e. storing the seasonal signs when not in use. Sharon suggested that possibly Cal Trans might have a storage facility. This will be researched.
 
The original locations identified by Cindy and Scott Williams were accepted and Cindy will begin the encroachment permit process. She will need refinement of the construction details for these permit applications.
 
CHIPPER PROJECT – the chipper report, in written form, states that the season has been successful. Margaret Belz, Chair, feels that next year will be even better with some refinement of the guidelines for chipper day events.
 
SPEAKERS BUREAU – Robin Wyatt-Little
 
Robin reports that the speaker’s bureau has wrapped up the season with a presentation on July 5th to KRVR with 30 in attendance. Captain Dennis Monahan of KCFD presented the DVD and did an excellent job facilitating the Q&A period following the presentation. Printed educational materials were distributed. This wildfire awareness DVD/program was given to the Lake Isabella/Bodfish POA; the KRV Rotary Club; the KRV Exchange Club; the KRV Chamber of Commerce and the Kern River Valley Revitalization Assn. The DVD and printed materials were distributed at each of the presentations.
 
Robin requested more copies of the DVD. Ken Stevens said that Mt. Pinos made 500 more DVD’s and he would send additional copies to the KRV FSC.
 
Robin suggested that we try to refresh the educational component for next wildfire awareness season. Perhaps getting the DVD on public access TV channel in the KRV. Ken Stevens said that Tina Burke of the Kern county Resource Management Agency is working on placing the DVD and printed materials in a specified Wildfire Awareness Section of all the Kern County Libraries.
 
PUBLICITY – Margie Clack
 
Ed Royce complimented Margie on the excellent FSC articles she has submitted to the local newspapers.
 
Margie suggested that the FSC might want to attend the upcoming Town Hall meeting on July 24th, 2PM and 6PM at the Lake Isabella Senior Center. The purpose of this meeting, sponsored by Supervisor Jon McQuiston, will be to discuss emergency plans in the KRV in the event of a catastrophic dam failure.
 
KRVFSC Planning Strategy –Ed Royce
 
Discussion revolved around recruiting new members for the FSC i.e. KC Parks, Cal Trans, SCE, Insurance and Realty businesses, Banks etc. (see Chamber of Commerce notes.)
 
Other ideas were: Smaller versus larger group meetings; projects require a volunteer labor force i.e. sign project and fire safe garden project proposal; current members will try to bring two new people to the next meeting; in order to recruit the FSC should have a list of current and proposed projects so folks can volunteer for activities they enjoy; keep the list manageable; the list will be developed to include the Speaker’s Bureau, Sign Project, Chipper Days and proposed Fire Safe Demonstration Garden. Robin and Ed will develop the list.
 
Following discussion Lloyd Smith moved that the KRV FSC join both the Kern River Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Kernville Chamber of Commerce. It was unanimously agreed that the benefits of networking make this a worthwhile effort. Robin Wyatt-Little, 2nd. Unanimous. Robin will contact the Kernville Chamber for an application. Robin will also ask for an opportunity to give a FSC presentation to the Kernville Chamber of Commerce. Agreed that a FSC representative should attend the respective chamber meetings.
 
An annual KRV FSC operating budget of $4000.00 was suggested. This will cover the insurance premiums, postage, office supplies, bookkeeping services for taxes and 501c3 filings. Robin Wyatt-Little made the motion to accept. Lloyd Smith, 2nd. Unanimous approval.
 
FUNDRAISING STRATEGY REPORT – Lloyd Smith
 
Lloyd reiterated the need for a sustaining funding base to cover annual operating expenses. Because grant funding fluctuates, Lloyd suggests an organized fund raising strategy as follows:
l. Letters sent to KRV business community providing the opportunity to become sustaining FSC members through a $250 annual pledge for four years. This fund raising effort would be Stage 1 and will be accomplished within a three month time frame.
 
2. Stage 2 would be letters sent to various KRV property owners associations providing them the opportunity to become sustaining members through a $100 pledge per year for four years. It was pointed out that there are several POA FSC members sitting on the Board and that many POA’s have benefited from fuel reduction projects funded through FSC grant projects. This fund raising effort would be implemented in the early spring to coincide with wildfire awareness season and the beginning of the Chipper Days events.
 
3. Stage 3 will consist of sending letters to KRV individuals, providing them the opportunity of sustaining membership through an annual $25.00 pledge for four years. This stage is not necessarily the best option due to the expense of mass mailings. The FSC website could provide information for individual donations.
 
Lloyd cautioned that the FSC should be prudent and not allow its operating budget expenses to increase unbounded just because the funds might be available.
 
Ken Stevens suggested that a KRV FSC power point be developed, highlighting the history and accomplishments of our FSC which could be used to facilitate our fund raising efforts.
 
Bob Robinson suggested that perhaps the Mojave Mountain RC&D might be in a position to research funding to help the FSC with its operational budget needs.
 
Rich Olson moved to accept the Fundraising Strategy as presented by Lloyd Smith. Gordon Hancock, 2nd. Unanimous approval.
 
BLM REPORT – Sue Rocha
 
Sue Rocha asked the KRV FSC if it would consider amending the current KRV CWPP to include the Kelso Valley area to facilitate future BLM fuel reduction projects for wildfire mitigation purposes. There is such a project in the early planning stages and Sue wanted to alert the FSC to this possibility for the upcoming CWPP amendment process in the fall of 2006. Rich Olson said that Sue should write the proposal for submittal to the KRV FSC. Rich also mentioned that all suggested amendments are determined on a case-by-case basis. It was agreed that Sue’s request was appropriate for the CWPP amendment process.
 
Lloyd Smith also requested that the Walker Pass area be included in the KRV FSC CWPP amendment process. Ed Royce asked Lloyd to write a concept paper specific to the Walker Pass residential areas to be included in his proposal for inclusion.
 
KCFD – Ken Stevens
 
Ken reports that the crews are busy with respective projects, compliance citation work and fire season.
 
Property Owners Associations:
 
Greenhorn Mountain POA – Penny Lampkins, President of GMPOA reports that their chipper day event(s) were hugely successful , filling six green waste bins.
 
Squirrel Valley POA – Tom Parkin, our current SVPOA representative for the FSC donated $300.00 to the operating fund account. Tom received a rousing applause from his peers around the table. THANK YOU TOM!
 
Frontier Trail POA – Robin reports that Bill Dierck has the “to do” list and will relay the message to the Board.
 
Motion to adjourn, Unanimous approval.
 
Ed Royce adjourned the meeting at 11:30 AM.
 
Respectfully submitted by: Robin Wyatt-Little, Secretary


Kern River Valley Fire Safe Council ● PO Box 633, Kernville, CA 93238

General information: Lloyd Smith ● (760) 377-3542 or Robin Little ● (760) 376-6842

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Site last Updated On: 04/23/2008